Chapter 16 #3
“Whatever gave you that idea, Donovan?” she asked sarcastically, motioning for me to hurry up.
Lexi gave me a firm look as I left, trailing behind the warden as we reached her office.
She sat in her chair and glared at my hands, seeming to need a minute before speaking. “You started a fight with Vines. Why?”
“She was giving Lexi trouble,” I shrugged. “I didn’t know she’d start throwing hands like that.”
“Congratulations. You’re no longer the fastest inmate to end up in the hole. I don’t think I’ve ever had to drag someone there on day one before.”
“Lucky Vines. Does she get a prize?” I smirked, taking a seat opposite her desk. “Do I have to go back down there? I kind of like the silence.”
“We’re at capacity, thanks to your cell block, and since you backed off when told, you get off with a warning.
Just so you know, all of these interactions and conversations get written down for your trial.
If you don’t want to be known as the violent criminal, maybe stop acting like it,” she warned, making me snicker.
“Being a violent criminal and a murderer are two very different things, Warden.”
“Do you know anything about Anderson?” she asked, and I scoffed.
“She doesn’t like me and she has terrible dental hygiene. Apart from that, no. Why?”
“She was found beaten in the showers. The cameras were covered at the time, and it just so happened to be when you and Bryant were heading in that direction,” she sighed, tapping her finger on the desk impatiently.
“We were with—”
“And he had to go and speak to security about something, claiming he sent you back to the laundry. The footage shows a gap in time from when you left there, to when you returned. What were you doing?”
“Dragging ass. I hate the laundry, so we took our time going back,” I lied with a shrug, her eyes narrowing.
“You didn’t go to the bathroom?”
“Without a caddy or fresh clothes?” I asked with fake confusion, giving her a pointed look. “Beating the hell out of someone would get me in a lot of trouble. I don’t really want to stay here forever, so why would I risk it?”
She knew I was full of shit but couldn’t prove it, studying my hands and making me thankful for Vines starting her shit to cover it up a little.
“Go and clean up. I’ve had enough of you girls today.
Spend the rest of the day in the library studying.
At least you can show the judge you’re trying to give yourself a good future,” she finally said, flicking her hand at the door.
“Tell Bryant to get off her high horse too. I’m in charge of this prison, not her. ”
“Of course, Warden,” I smiled, getting to my feet and leaving the room, taking a peek into Medical on my way past to see Anderson on the bed, waiting to be carted off to the hospital.
The creep brushed past me on his way to the warden’s office, and I could tell he was nervous. I wondered what lie he was going to tell her about why he ditched us to go to the security room?
I stopped by my room to grab some of my school work, relieved to have some alone time while things calmed down.
I slowed my steps as I got to my door, finding all my things tossed on the floor. Someone had ransacked my fucking room. My school work was scattered everywhere, my snacks torn open and thrown among my clothes and bedding, and my cigarettes were missing.
“Motherfucker,” I hissed, starting to tidy up. I couldn’t report it, and all the girls were still in the laundry room, so there was no point leaving it here like this to show anyone.
Once I was done, I poked my head into the other rooms, finding mine was the only one turned upside down.
“The fuck are you doing?” Jamie asked with a frown as she appeared, probably thinking I was snooping.
“Someone trashed my room. I was just checking to see if I was the only one,” I sighed, returning to my room to try and sort out my school work.
“I meant what the fuck are you doing with the fights? You’re going to get hauled off to court with added charges,” she warned, sitting on my bed to watch me.
“It’s a long story.”
“I don’t have anywhere to be,” she hummed, lying back and putting her arms behind her head. “Fill me in.”
I shut the door and gave her the rundown on everything, and she seemed to relax at being let in on it.
“You guys seriously planned all of that today? How did you not get caught?”
I waved my busted knuckles at her with a chuckle. “That’s why I started on Vines. She wanted a fight, so I figured I’d give her one. She wouldn’t have gotten any hits in unless I wanted her to. I fight for money on the outside against experts.”
“You and Bryant are scheming fuckers that belong together,” she scoffed, changing the subject slightly.
“Vines has been way too comfortable with being here. None of those newbie nerves we all got on our first day. Roberts is a fucking mess though. I’d bet money on her crying herself to sleep tonight. Who do you think trashed your room?”
“Fucked if I know. A lot of people hate me,” I reminded her, trying to go over names in my head but coming up with none that really stood out.
“Check in with Maxwell to see if there were any red flags today. Maybe one of them is the girl you’re looking for,” she suggested, and it was a good idea.
“I’ll ask her at dinner,” I agreed, hoping no one tried to shiv me in the meantime.